Gold medallists crowned at the Perth Royal Beer Awards

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Some of Australia’s finest beers and brewers are the latest recipients of a coveted Perth Royal Food Award following an awards event and celebration in Perth.

The competition – an initiative of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) – is part of the Perth Royal Food Awards programme, celebrating exceptional produce and producers from across Australia.

In total, nearly 700 entries across 77 separate classes were ‘blind’ tastes by judges from across the brewing industry. Led by Chief Judge, Jayne Lewis – co-owner and brewer at Two Birds Brewing in Melbourne – the panel of experts were tasked with the judging and scrutinising of each medal hopeful according to appearance, aroma, flavour, technical quality and style.

There was success for Victoria-based 3 Ravens Brewery who excelled with their New World IPA, scooping the prize for Champion Beer – the highest award available to commercial brewers.

Elsewhere, Feral Brewing Company (Baskerville, WA) and Innate Brewers (Fremantle, WA) took home the Champion Large Brewery and Champion Small Brewery awards, respectively.

The prize for Best Lager (Packaged) went to Lion’s Emu Export Lager while Best Lager (Draught) was collected by Gage Roads Brewing Co’s Alby Draft.

Meanwhile those looking for a lighter brew will be well served by Feral Brewing Company’s Runt pale ale which took home the prize for best reduced alcohol draught.

Aside from celebrating the best commercial brewers, the Perth Royal Beer Awards also recognises some of WA’s leading amateur brews. Aspiring brew masters, Chris de Chaneet and Benjamin Tearne each picked up trophies in the amateur categories – Chris for his Fumbling Festbier and Benjamin for his Banana Cream Soda.

Jayne Lewis – leading the judging team – said the competition had been incredibly comprehensive and thorough in its judging.

“We had an exceptionally talented and experienced judging panel to sort through every conceivable style of beer. Needless to say; with more than 40 experts in the room and nearly 700 beers to taste and score, this was a huge logistical task. However, it was pleasing to see so many judges in agreement when it came to crowning our champions and trophy winners, showing that regardless of tastes, the best beer will always shine.

“Around three-quarters of our judges scored 3 Raven’s New World IPA as the overall champion beer. It is an excellent example of its style and huge kudos goes to their brewing team and head brewer Brendan O’Sullivan – a WA native – for their work.

“Feral also deserve a particular mention for practically hoovering up medals in 2019. As well as winning Champion Large Brewery, they also won Best Dark Ale (Draught); Best Reduced Alcohol (Draught); Best Wheat Beer and a whole host of medals. To have that kind of consistency and quality across such a wide range is incredible.

“It’s also great to see the likes of Innate – a relative new comer – picking up the Champion Small Brewery Award and plenty of medals.”

The judging panel for the 2019 Royal Perth Beer Awards

Paul Carter, President of RASWA, said: “There are few things more synonymous with Australia and being an Australian than our collective love of beer. It is something that we are internationally renowned for and forms part of our national identity on the world stage.

“Domestically, Australian beer and the pursuit of new and innovative ways of brewing is stronger than it has ever been. The calibre of entrants to this year’s awards has been outstanding in its quality and variety.

“Receiving a Perth Royal Food Awards medal is one of the highest achievements for any producer to attain and I would like to convey my congratulations to each of our deserving winners.”

For more information about the Perth Royal Food Awards and a full list of winners from the 2019 smallgoods category, visit the website.